Christian Living

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“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavouring to keep the unity of spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:3

In that verse the Apostle Paul urged unity, as did the Lord Jesus in John 17:20-23. However, the church generally today has taken this to mean unity at any cost – even when there is disobedience to the Word by the leadership. The key words in Ephesians 4:3 above are: “have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

Church leaders who are sticking rigidly to their denominational tradition are expecting the flock to support them, but anyone who reads their Bible knows that particular church is being disobedient; either by ignoring the Word or omitting it. This can never bring unity. It is not a “worthy walk.” The “religious” Jews of the Bible were split because their tradition overrode what they heard Jesus say, and what they saw Him do. Some believed, others stuck with their tradition - and Jesus had harsh words to say to them.

He put it bluntly in Mark 7:13, “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.” See also Mark 7:8-9.

So it is today. Denominational leaders are so obsessed with labels (Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Presbyterian etc) that not being like others has become more important than what the Word says. Satan is doing a wonderful deception job in this. The denominationalist says: “We are not going to lay hands on the sick and speak in tongues because the Pentecostals do it, and we’re not going to be like them.” It doesn’t matter what the Word says!! The tradition is more important to them! Today’s denominations have become today’s Pharisees and Sadducees.

The practising of gifts of the Holy Spirit (a vital part of the Early Church, 1 Cor. 12) are ignored in Century 21 by many because of human tradition. Jesus must be weeping. Paul said in that chapter: “I do not want you to be ignorant.”

Another subtle satanic ploy which has crept in is that anyone who challenges the status quo - and compares it with the truth of the Word - is regarded as a stirrer and troublemaker who causes a split in the church.

Such an attitude is an excellent way of discouraging challenge: “Don’t rock our boat, we must have unity,” the leaders imply. The result? Instead of a Bible-practising united church we have a part-Bible-practising social club, devoid of Holy Spirit power. Unity whilst disregarding Bible truth does not work.

In most churches it could all change very quickly by simply making a decision to do everything that is in the Word, and tradition be put aside. If that means the pastor is sacked by denominational HQ in the big city - then so be it. If it means he loses his denomination-financed house – so be it. If it means half the church members depart, so be it. The end result will be a full-on for Jesus, obedient church. Then and only then can we have real unity, and the Holy Spirit be allowed to do what He wants.

Who and what are we following; God’s Word in all its fullness, or human tradition? A final thought: the word denomination does not appear in the Bible.

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